National Republican., 1887-05-23
SABBATH OBSERVANCE.
what ia Requisite to Holy Keeping
of the Day.

A large meeting was held at the Luther
Memorial Church Yesterday afternoon at
4!3O o'clock, the object being to give ex-
preston in regard to the proper observance
of the Sabbath The exercises commenced
by singing the hymn, "Welcome, Sweet
Day Of Rest" Prayer was offered by Rev.
Teunis $. lIamlin, after which Hon.
Hiram Price took charge OF the meeting
He said To-day in the nineteenth century,
In the capital Of the greatest country in the
world, we are assembled to devise means
for the better observance OF the sabbath day.
We send millions every year to Christianize
the heather, and the danger is that we may
neglect some things that ought to be done
at home. There is a large sentiment In the
country caused In part by the great influx
OF foreigners upon our shores who are not
In favor of the observance OF the day.
Take away the grog shop from the land and
there Will be very little necessity for such n
meeting as this, as the grog shops and the
desecration Of the Sabbath 20 hand In hand
together. 1t is our duty to leave this
country to our children better than our
forefathers gave II to u.s."
Mr.. III, q. Claughton was the next speaker.
He said "The stupendous work of nature
was concerted and executed by being
who knew man and what his needs were,
and He ordained the Sabbath day, and
rested from his labors on that day.
Usually those who cl amor for the aboll-
tion OF the Sabbath have already abolished
God from the world. Our duty is to stand
up for the sanctity OF the Sabbath, uphold
the commissioners In their action, aud ap.
peal to the President TO rid the country Of
this monster Christian desecration."
Rev. DIR. Elliott next addressed the meet
ing aud said, "We have right to demand
the enforcement OF the laws. The people
here represented give the police no trouble.
They pay most Of the taxes and they de-
mand that the laws be enforced as they
exist. This nation cannot do without the
Sabbath as a day Of rest, and 1t must not
be secular day. A holiday Sabbath is n
Sabbath of work. The Sabbath is the only
bulwark between grasping capitalists and
| the toilng masses II was made for man
when he was made. The war against the
Sabbath is part of the war against God,
truth, morality, and religion"
Rev. DIR. Richardson read the following
preamble and resolution; Mr.. William Bal
lentyne moved the adoption, which was
seconded by Mr.. b. F. Fuller, and 1t was
unanimously adopted by the whole congre-
cation rising to their feet:
"Thc Sabbath was made for man." Its
| maintenance and observance are necessary to
the welfare of the state and the individual.
| Humanity needs one day IN seven as q day
of rest and worship, and God commands its
| remembrance.
Anarchsm, socialism, and communism, as.
sailing society as n divine institution, assault
its two great pillars-marriage and the Sab
| bath.
The traditions OF our nation, the perpetuity
of our social fabric, the prosperity OF our land,
| are all bound up in the sacredness of the day.
| The enforcement of the laws of the District OF
Columbia relating to this subject is demanded.
not only by the sworn obligations of the com
| missioners to whom such duty Is intrusted,
but by the highest considerations of religious,
civil, and social welfare, and we point to the
| increased order and quiet OF the day and the
| dminution of arrests by the police since the
| enforcement of these laws as sufficient evi
dence of their justice and necessity. We hold
| that the right of rest and of worship Is guar
anteed to every citizen, and no one should be
allowed to invade this right by the seculariza
tion Of the day, works OF necessity and of char
| lty being excepted.
We therefore call upon the commissioners o.
| the District OF Columbia to faithfully execute
| the laws for the observance oil the Sabbath.
We further call upon all pubic officers tc
honor and observe in the several department,
OF the government under their charge the Oh.
legations of the Sabbath day, that the nation
In its chief representatives, may obey tha
| divine command which our fathers honoret
and which has ever been recognized us an es
sential factor In the welfare OF the nation.